Itaú Invests $210 Million in Bitcoin, Establishes Oranje for Strategic Reserve Argentina Proposes Tokenization Framework for Digital Securities Panama City Allows Cryptocurrency Payments for Municipal Taxes

Itaú, one of Brazil's largest banks, has announced a significant investment of $210 million in Bitcoin. This move is part of a new initiative to establish Oranje, a company dedicated to accumulating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve. The bank aims to follow the model set by Strategy, a company known for its substantial Bitcoin holdings. Guilherme Gomes, the former CEO of Swan Bitcoin, will lead Oranje, with Guilherme Ferreira from Bahema serving as the Chief Financial Officer. The governing structure of Oranje includes prominent figures in the crypto industry, such as Eric Weiss and Fernando Ulrich. The company plans to use fundraising tactics similar to those employed by Strategy, including debt issuance and stock sales. Oranje will also provide tax and operational benefits to clients seeking direct exposure to Bitcoin without intermediaries. The firm is betting on Bitcoin's potential as a strategic reserve asset, citing its global adoption of only 3% despite being valued at $2 trillion. Recent legislative changes, particularly those following Donald Trump’s election in the United States, are seen as favorable for the cryptocurrency industry. Oranje is backed by partners including Itaú BBA, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, Pillsbury, and one of the Big Four auditing firms, and believes that the "Bitcoin Standard" is transforming corporate treasury strategies, presenting a unique market opportunity.

In Argentina, the National Securities Commission (CNV) has presented a new regulatory proposal on tokenization. The draft rule, authorized under RG No. 1060, establishes a framework for the digital representation of marketable securities using distributed ledger technologies. CNV President Dr. Roberto Silva highlighted the proposal's uniqueness, which is now open for public comment for 15 days. The policy aims to equate tokenized assets with traditional securities while enhancing security, traceability, and transparency. It enables the tokenization of various assets, including stocks, bonds, investment fund units, and CEDEARS. The technical scope of the rule was detailed with the cooperation of significant business associations and legal firms, positioning Argentina as a regional leader in digital asset regulation.

In Panama City, Mayor Mayer Mizrachi and Towerbank President Benjamín Méndez have agreed to allow citizens to pay municipal taxes with cryptocurrency. This initiative, undertaken by Towerbank’s fiduciary subsidiary Towertrust, ensures that all cryptocurrency payments are converted into US dollars before reaching the city’s accounts. This approach allows the municipality to benefit from innovation without directly handling digital assets, maintaining compliance and transparency. Mayor Mizrachi described the arrangement as a progressive step toward a digitally connected public administration that offers flexible, secure, and lawful payment options. The initiative will be governed by a formal Municipal Agreement, with cryptocurrency provided as an additional option alongside existing platforms.